Williams has received a record 18 Brit Awards, winning Best British Male Artist four times, Outstanding Contribution to Music twice, an Icon Award for his lasting impact on British culture, eight German ECHO Awards, and three MTV European Music Awards. In 2004, he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame after being voted the Greatest Artist of the 1990s. According to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), he has been certified for 20.2 million albums and 8.66 million singles in the UK as a solo artist. Five of his albums have also topped the Australian albums chart, and has sold 75 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He also topped the 2000โ2010 UK airplay chart. His three concerts at Knebworth in 2003 drew over 375,000 people, the UK's biggest music event to that point. In 2014, he was awarded the freedom of his hometown of Stoke-on-Trent and had a tourist trail created and streets named in his honour. Williams' thirteenth album, XXV was released on 9 September 2022.
After 15 years, Williams rejoined Take That in 2010 to co-write and perform lead vocals on their album Progress, which became the second-fastest-selling album in UK chart history and the fastest-selling record of the century at the time. The subsequent stadium tour, which featured seven songs from Williams' solo career, became the biggest-selling concert in UK history when it sold 1.34 million tickets in less than 24 hours. In 2011, Take That frontman Gary Barlow confirmed that Williams had left the band for a second time to focus on his solo career, although he stated that the departure was amicable and that Williams was welcome to rejoin Take That in the future. Williams has since performed with Take That on three separate television appearances, and collaborated with Barlow on a number of projects such as the West End musical The Band.
Andy Warhol
Robbie Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was frightened of the teachers
I didnโฒt learn nothing
Cause I couldn't understand it
Iโฒm a little too much
Then not enough
And all the kids were violent
Cause the town was rough
Hey babies
It's the Eighties
Electric blue
Pure shock
Cocaine in the bathroom
You like my shoes?
I like your top
Oh, let's rock
Weโฒre with Andy Warhol at Studio 54
Thatโฒs right, ah ha, oh yeah
When you come down
You've gotta ride the white horse
Thatโฒs right, ah ha, oh yeah
Could go bananas, ah ha
I'm off this planet, ah ha
Embrace the madness, ah ha
I always felt different
The world felt strange
And if your gonna play out
Then youโฒve got to be brave
Everyone was angry
Cause no one had nothing
And we hoped for the best
Maybe come to something
Hey babies
It's the Eighties
Success
Lighten up
Poppers on the dance floor
You like my shoes?
I like your Swatch
Oh, letโฒs rock
We're with Andy Warhol at Studio 54
That's right, ah ha, oh yeah
The boys are with the boys
And the girls are naked on the floor
Thatโฒs right, ah ha, oh yeah
Could go bananas, ah ha
Iโฒm off this planet, ah ha
Embrace the madness, ah ha
Ha, ha, yeah
Could go bananas, ah ha
I'm off this planet, ah ha
Embrace the madness, ah ha
Ha, ha, yeah
Welcome to our club
The future has arrived
Only the chosen are allowed inside
Bowieโฒs at the door
Tom Tom Ford
With the best of the best
And we're looking so fresh
And everybodyโฒs dressed for success
Oh yes
Hey babies
It's the Eighties
Electric blue
Pure shock
Cocaine in the bathroom
You like my shoes?
I like your top
Oh, letโฒs rock
We're with Andy Warhol at Studio 54
That's right, ah ha, oh yeah
When you come down
Youโฒve gotta ride the white horse
Thatโฒs right, ah ha, oh yeah
We're with Andy Warhol at Studio 54
Thatโฒs right, ah ha, oh yeah
The boys are with the boys
And the girls are naked on the floor
That's right, ah ha, oh yeah
Could go bananas, ah ha
Iโฒm off this planet, ah ha
Embrace the madness, ah ha
Ah ah yeah
Could go bananas, ah ha
I'm off this planet, ah ha
Embrace the madness, ah ha
Ah ah yeah
The lyrics to Robbie Williams's song "Andy Warhol" touch upon themes of personal identity, societal pressure, and the desire for escapism. The opening verse depicts a young boy who struggles with his education, feeling misunderstood and inadequate. The line "I'm a little too much, then not enough" suggests a sense of insecurity and not fitting societal norms. The mention of a violent town further reinforces the difficulties faced by the singer.
The chorus introduces the setting of Studio 54, a renowned club in the 1980s synonymous with the decadence and excess of the era. "Riding the white horse" is a metaphor for cocaine use, hinting at the drug culture prevalent at the time. The lyrics reflect a desire for excitement and liberation, as Williams exclaims, "Could go bananas, I'm off this planet, embrace the madness."
The second verse highlights the singer's feeling of being different and the world appearing strange. The line "Everyone was angry 'cause no one had nothing" suggests a general dissatisfaction and lack of opportunities, leading to frustration. However, there is still a glimmer of hope, with the mention of "hoping for the best, maybe come to something."
The second chorus reinforces the desire for success and indulgence. The name-dropping of Andy Warhol, a prominent artist associated with the hedonistic culture of the 1980s, adds to the imagery of extravagance and artistic expression. The mention of Bowie and Tom Ford evokes the idea of exclusivity and being part of a chosen elite.
Overall, "Andy Warhol" captures the essence of the 1980s, a decade characterized by excess, rebellion, and the search for personal identity.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was a young boy
During my childhood
I was frightened of the teachers
I was scared of my teachers
I didn't learn nothing
I didn't learn anything
Cause I couldn't understand it
Because I couldn't comprehend it
I'm a little too much
I'm a bit excessive
Then not enough
Then not sufficient
And all the kids were violent
And all the children were aggressive
Cause the town was rough
Because the town was tough
Hey babies
Hey, my friends
It's the Eighties
It's the 1980s
Electric blue
Bright blue
Pure shock
Complete surprise
Cocaine in the bathroom
Illegal drugs in the restroom
You like my shoes?
Do you enjoy my shoes?
I like your top
I appreciate your shirt
Oh, let's rock
Oh, let's have fun
We're with Andy Warhol at Studio 54
We are with Andy Warhol at Studio 54 nightclub
That's right, ah ha, oh yeah
That is correct, oh yes
When you come down
When you relax
You've gotta ride the white horse
You must indulge in cocaine
Could go bananas, ah ha
Could go crazy, oh yes
I'm off this planet, ah ha
I'm out of this world, oh yes
Embrace the madness, ah ha
Accept the craziness, oh yes
I always felt different
I always felt unique
The world felt strange
The world seemed unfamiliar
And if your gonna play out
And if you're going to participate
Then you've got to be brave
Then you must be courageous
Everyone was angry
Everyone was furious
Cause no one had nothing
Because no one had anything
And we hoped for the best
And we wished for the best outcome
Maybe come to something
Maybe lead to something significant
Success
Achievement
Lighten up
Relax
Poppers on the dance floor
Recreational drugs on the dance floor
You like my shoes?
Do you like my shoes?
I like your Swatch
I like your Swatch watch
Oh, let's rock
Oh, let's have fun
The boys are with the boys
The boys are together
And the girls are naked on the floor
And the girls are undressed on the floor
Could go bananas, ah ha
Could go crazy, oh yes
I'm off this planet, ah ha
I'm out of this world, oh yes
Embrace the madness, ah ha
Accept the craziness, oh yes
Welcome to our club
Welcome to our group
The future has arrived
The future is here
Only the chosen are allowed inside
Only the selected ones can enter
Bowie's at the door
David Bowie is at the entrance
Tom Tom Ford
Fashion designer Tom Ford
With the best of the best
With the finest individuals
And we're looking so fresh
And we appear very stylish
And everybody's dressed for success
And everyone is dressed to impress
Oh yes
Oh, definitely
Welcome to our club
Welcome to our group
The future has arrived
The future is here
Only the chosen are allowed inside
Only the selected ones can enter
Bowie's at the door
David Bowie is at the entrance
Tom Tom Ford
Fashion designer Tom Ford
With the best of the best
With the finest individuals
And we're looking so fresh
And we appear very stylish
And everybody's dressed for success
And everyone is dressed to impress
Oh yes
Oh, definitely
Writer(s): Robert Peter Williams, Karl Peter Brazil, Benjamin Roy Castle
Contributed by Evelyn K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mariam Knight
I don't understand how this man can still make such masterpieces...I'm so addicted to this song
Jennifer Meneguiny
Amazing Robbie Williams!!
Much love from Brasil to you๐๐๐
Joice Assuncao
Ele podia vir ao Brasil nรฉ, eu iria trabalhar o ano toda pra juntar grana pra ir ๐ mas ele รฉ tรฃo maravilhoso que Compesa o sacrifรญcio!
Jodie Fletcher
Love this song !!
Juan contreras
una de mis favoritas del album!!!๐๐๐
DNA CNTRS
Te sigo desde Mรฉxico, no hace muchos aรฑos, pero si para siempre (Aunque tus videos estรกn medio locos jajajaja)
Me tiene encantada tu personalidad y lo que proyectas. Gracias por compartir.
Greta Antanaviciute
The love for you will never go away!๐ Good catchy song and those 90's vibes..๐ค๐ brilliant โคโคโค
30foxpicturespoopingindustriesandtrashproductions
I really like this alternative 80's funk...
...and I appreciate Robbie Williams jumps in different types of music...sounds unique...everytime
Mathilde Mรถhring
Great video. It is Silly and reduced to the basics. It's brilliant. UTR 2 is the best album I've ever heard.
Watcher 693
That was a brilliant video and lyrics. Talented and very clever. ๐